Dynamic selection and usage of MIMO antenna elements in an electronic device as a function of correlation pattern

Abstract

An electronic device includes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements configured for MIMO communication across a network. One or more sensors detect a triggering event altering a radiation correlation pattern between at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements. One or more processors then select, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the triggering event, a quantity of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements available for engagement in the MIMO communication across the network as a function of the radiation correlation pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna array; and 
 one or more processors selecting a quantity of antenna elements of the MIMO antenna array for engagement in MIMO communication across a network as a function of a radiation correlation pattern in response to a change in the radiation correlation pattern. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , the MIMO antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more processors further determining a correlation score for each antenna element of the MIMO antenna array in response to the change in the radiation correlation pattern. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , the one or more processors determining the correlation score for the each antenna element in both an uplink direction and a downlink direction. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 3 , the one or more processors excluding an antenna element in the quantity of antenna elements when the correlation score for the antenna element is above a first predefined correlation score threshold. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 5 , the one or more processors including the antenna element in the quantity of antenna elements when the correlation score for the antenna element is below a second predefined correlation score threshold. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the first predefined correlation score threshold and the second predefined correlation score threshold are the same. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 5 , the one or more processors including the antenna element in the quantity of antenna elements when the correlation score for the antenna element is at least one-half wavelength of a MIMO communication signal of the MIMO communication different from other correlation scores of other antenna elements included with the quantity of antenna elements. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , further comprising a memory operable with the one or more processors, the one or more processors further updating a map of antenna elements available to engage in the MIMO communication stored in the memory. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , the electronic device comprising a first device housing pivotable about a hinge relative to a second device housing between a closed position and an axially displaced open position. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein at least two antenna elements are situated in the first device housing and at least two other antenna elements situated in the second device housing. 
     
     
       12. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 increasing, using one or more processors, a quantity of antenna elements selected from a multiple output (MIMO) antenna array for use in MIMO communication across a network when radiation correlation patterns between at least two antenna elements of the MIMO antenna array decrease; and 
 decreasing, using the one or more processors, the quantity of antenna elements for use in the MIMO communication across the network when the radiation correlation patterns between the at least two antenna elements of the MIMO antenna array increase. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , the increasing occurring when a triggering event decreases the radiation correlation patterns between the at least two antenna elements of the MIMO antenna array by at least a half wavelength of a MIMO communication signal used for the MIMO communication across the network. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining a polarization of the at least two antenna elements. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising updating, with the one or more processors in a memory of the electronic device, a map of antenna elements available for engagement in the MIMO communication. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising dynamically maintaining a table of correlation scores for each antenna element of the MIMO antenna array. 
     
     
       17. An electronic device, comprising:
 a first device housing pivotable about a hinge relative to a second device housing between an axially displaced open position and a closed position; 
 a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna array; and 
 one or more processors operable with the MIMO antenna array, the one or more processors increasing a quantity of antenna elements available to engage in MIMO communication when the electronic device is in the axially displaced open position and decreasing the quantity of antenna elements available to engage in the MIMO communication when the electronic device is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 17 , the MIMO antenna array comprising at least one antenna element situated in the first device housing and at least one antenna element situated in the second device housing. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 17 , the one or more processors further determining a correlation score for each antenna element of the MIMO antenna array. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , the one or more processors decreasing the quantity of antenna elements by removing antenna elements having a correlation score above a predefined threshold.